He has worked closely with Washington in the fight against the Islamic State while maintaining cordial ties with Iran and reestablishing relations with regional powers such as Saudi Arabia. The war against the Islamic State has significantly altered the political map in Iraq, where Shiites are the majority. Voter apathy runs deep among the population after the grueling nine-month battle against the Islamic State. “This city has always rejected the political process, and what we ended up with was the Islamic State,” Elias said. She said the legacy of the Islamic State, often known in Arabic as Daesh, has left the city politically vulnerable.

Source: Washington Post May 06, 2018 23:17 UTC